"Normal is the greatest enemy in regard to creating the new. To get around this you have to understand normal not as reality but as just a construct." -- Alan KayDaily driver: Phantom (Lubed Cherry MX Clear, Lasered Cherry PBT keycaps with Row A. Plastic "Frankencase". Custom firmware, Swedish layout)

I'd really love to see some more pics of Abels. Just about to pick a kit up of the dark blue and it's hard to find pics of that colour and info about the board in general. Going in a bit blind but feel like I'm gonna really dig the low angle. Would love to see more pics and opinions!

Finally got her built! Still need to take some daylight pics of the board with everything on it though...

67g Zealios with clipped and lubed stabs (first time lubing )

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Oh wow man I only just saw this post, that thing looks beautiful. Mine is still in the box, with enough 67g or 78g Zealios ready to go on it. I could try to build it tomorrow but it'd be my first build and I'm feeling pretty trepidatious about it. I've done a little soldering kit thing to teach myself to solder but this is a different ball game... There are spare PCBs currently on the Matrix store on TaoBao so I guess if I totally balls it up it's replacable at least.

I just noticed you've got a white PCB in there which is like the ones on TaoBao. Is that the one that came with your kit? The one I got is a dark teal kind of colour.

Finally got her built! Still need to take some daylight pics of the board with everything on it though...

67g Zealios with clipped and lubed stabs (first time lubing )

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Oh wow man I only just saw this post, that thing looks beautiful. Mine is still in the box, with enough 67g or 78g Zealios ready to go on it. I could try to build it tomorrow but it'd be my first build and I'm feeling pretty trepidatious about it. I've done a little soldering kit thing to teach myself to solder but this is a different ball game... There are spare PCBs currently on the Matrix store on TaoBao so I guess if I totally balls it up it's replacable at least.

I just noticed you've got a white PCB in there which is like the ones on TaoBao. Is that the one that came with your kit? The one I got is a dark teal kind of colour.

They've done all the tough soldering already (MCU and smaller components), so don't stress too much! And yup mine came with the white pcb, I've seen different colored pcbs though I believe functionally they are all the same.

Finally got her built! Still need to take some daylight pics of the board with everything on it though...

67g Zealios with clipped and lubed stabs (first time lubing )

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Oh wow man I only just saw this post, that thing looks beautiful. Mine is still in the box, with enough 67g or 78g Zealios ready to go on it. I could try to build it tomorrow but it'd be my first build and I'm feeling pretty trepidatious about it. I've done a little soldering kit thing to teach myself to solder but this is a different ball game... There are spare PCBs currently on the Matrix store on TaoBao so I guess if I totally balls it up it's replacable at least.

I just noticed you've got a white PCB in there which is like the ones on TaoBao. Is that the one that came with your kit? The one I got is a dark teal kind of colour.

They've done all the tough soldering already (MCU and smaller components), so don't stress too much! And yup mine came with the white pcb, I've seen different colored pcbs though I believe functionally they are all the same.

Well I did it. Put 78g Zealios on it. Didn't mess anything up as far as I can tell. Took me most of the day and it was immensely enjoyable overall. However it's now 1:30am and I can't type 'cause my partner is in bed! Anyway, this thing is beautiful. I love it.

Finally got her built! Still need to take some daylight pics of the board with everything on it though...

67g Zealios with clipped and lubed stabs (first time lubing )

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Oh wow man I only just saw this post, that thing looks beautiful. Mine is still in the box, with enough 67g or 78g Zealios ready to go on it. I could try to build it tomorrow but it'd be my first build and I'm feeling pretty trepidatious about it. I've done a little soldering kit thing to teach myself to solder but this is a different ball game... There are spare PCBs currently on the Matrix store on TaoBao so I guess if I totally balls it up it's replacable at least.

I just noticed you've got a white PCB in there which is like the ones on TaoBao. Is that the one that came with your kit? The one I got is a dark teal kind of colour.

They've done all the tough soldering already (MCU and smaller components), so don't stress too much! And yup mine came with the white pcb, I've seen different colored pcbs though I believe functionally they are all the same.

Well I did it. Put 78g Zealios on it. Didn't mess anything up as far as I can tell. Took me most of the day and it was immensely enjoyable overall. However it's now 1:30am and I can't type 'cause my partner is in bed! Anyway, this thing is beautiful. I love it.

Finally got her built! Still need to take some daylight pics of the board with everything on it though...

67g Zealios with clipped and lubed stabs (first time lubing )

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Oh wow man I only just saw this post, that thing looks beautiful. Mine is still in the box, with enough 67g or 78g Zealios ready to go on it. I could try to build it tomorrow but it'd be my first build and I'm feeling pretty trepidatious about it. I've done a little soldering kit thing to teach myself to solder but this is a different ball game... There are spare PCBs currently on the Matrix store on TaoBao so I guess if I totally balls it up it's replacable at least.

I just noticed you've got a white PCB in there which is like the ones on TaoBao. Is that the one that came with your kit? The one I got is a dark teal kind of colour.

They've done all the tough soldering already (MCU and smaller components), so don't stress too much! And yup mine came with the white pcb, I've seen different colored pcbs though I believe functionally they are all the same.

Well I did it. Put 78g Zealios on it. Didn't mess anything up as far as I can tell. Took me most of the day and it was immensely enjoyable overall. However it's now 1:30am and I can't type 'cause my partner is in bed! Anyway, this thing is beautiful. I love it.

:clap: :clap: We want pics!

Ha! I took a bunch of phone pics along the way and will do a build log thing on imgur, maybe tonight. Will try to get some proper pics at some point as well, but I sold a bunch of camera gear to pay for more keyboards so I'll have to borrow a buddy's!

Thanks again for selling me this thing man. I ended up dropping out of the SKOG GB cos I decided to keep this, (also cos I got on the Lightsaver v3 GB... aaand I got an HHKB). I think I made the right decision, this Abel looks about perfect to me for a TKL.

Ha! I took a bunch of phone pics along the way and will do a build log thing on imgur, maybe tonight. Will try to get some proper pics at some point as well, but I sold a bunch of camera gear to pay for more keyboards so I'll have to borrow a buddy's!

Thanks again for selling me this thing man. I ended up dropping out of the SKOG GB cos I decided to keep this, (also cos I got on the Lightsaver v3 GB... aaand I got an HHKB). I think I made the right decision, this Abel looks about perfect to me for a TKL.

Have you got your TGR Jane yet?[/quote]

Im glad you like it! I have not. Its underway though! Should have it by mid June to start building Ill shoot over some pics when i can

Is there a better place for this on Geekhack? Like a repository for build logs?

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I feel sorry for that poor little hhkb at the back :p But seriously, after topre, do you find yourself liking tactile switches? Because I am thinking about making an mx board with mod switches or mx clears.

Is there a better place for this on Geekhack? Like a repository for build logs?

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I feel sorry for that poor little hhkb at the back :p But seriously, after topre, do you find yourself liking tactile switches? Because I am thinking about making an mx board with mod switches or mx clears.

Well I only got the HHKB on friday but I did love it immediately. It's a Hypersphered 55g modded one. The only other mechanical switches I'd tried before that were the Cherry reds in my Leopold, which I felt were too light for me. The Zealios are certainly nice, but I've hardly even used them yet, I've been on the sofa with my laptop all evening. I did wonder though, when I first tried the HHKB, if I was just not gonna find anything nicer. I do love it.

Is there a better place for this on Geekhack? Like a repository for build logs?

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There's no depository for such logs, but you can post them in this thread (if you just want to show pretty in-progress pictures) or in a dedicated thread in Making Things Together (if you'd like to describe and discuss the construction process).

Is there a better place for this on Geekhack? Like a repository for build logs?

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There's no depository for such logs, but you can post them in this thread (if you just want to show pretty in-progress pictures) or in a dedicated thread in Making Things Together (if you'd like to describe and discuss the construction process).

Ok, I'll make a post in Making Things Together. I'd be interested in discussing some things if people are up for it. Thanks.

Is there a better place for this on Geekhack? Like a repository for build logs?

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Awesome work, and really thorough build log! No matter hownmany you read, it's still always interesting to read about people's different techniques.

Also, my guess is the JTAG port is for flashing the firmware.

Cheers! Yeah it feels a bit weird posting it when everyone here seems so knowledgable already, glad to see someone enjoyed it.

And thanks for the info on the JTAG port. After doing this relatively simple build, I can see myself going further down the rabbithole with this sort of thing.

wow this is the best matrix build log I've ever seen!

Great work!

High praise indeed from the number one Matrix ambassador. Thanks very much!

I've got some Matrix questions which you might be able to answer.

- Do you know how many Abels were made in total? Were there two rounds?

- I see you have "Matrix 8XV2.0 Coming soon" in your sig. I presume it's gonna be another TKL? Any idea when it is being made? Any other info?

Also, please tell the Matrix crew to make a nice matching numpad for the Abel! :)

1. 200 GB version, about 10 Ver.C and some other experimental boards with unique colorways. Total number is about 230.2. 8XV2.0 would be a newly designed TKL. Now its still prototyping. International GB would be announced in the near future if everything goes smoothly.

Is there a better place for this on Geekhack? Like a repository for build logs?

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Awesome work, and really thorough build log! No matter hownmany you read, it's still always interesting to read about people's different techniques.

Also, my guess is the JTAG port is for flashing the firmware.

Cheers! Yeah it feels a bit weird posting it when everyone here seems so knowledgable already, glad to see someone enjoyed it.

And thanks for the info on the JTAG port. After doing this relatively simple build, I can see myself going further down the rabbithole with this sort of thing.

wow this is the best matrix build log I've ever seen!

Great work!

High praise indeed from the number one Matrix ambassador. Thanks very much!

I've got some Matrix questions which you might be able to answer.

- Do you know how many Abels were made in total? Were there two rounds?

- I see you have "Matrix 8XV2.0 Coming soon" in your sig. I presume it's gonna be another TKL? Any idea when it is being made? Any other info?

Also, please tell the Matrix crew to make a nice matching numpad for the Abel! :)

1. 200 GB version, about 10 Ver.C and some other experimental boards with unique colorways. Total number is about 230.2. 8XV2.0 would be a newly designed TKL. Now its still prototyping. International GB would be announced in the near future if everything goes smoothly.

2nd set is Imsto Cherry '98 dyesub, IIRC. Acquired these from a trade on r/mm.

I like the Classic Black on this board a tad more than the Imsto. The legends on the black set are very similar to the black HHKB's, where in low lighting they're almost impossible to see. Personally, I love that about the set. Although, part of what makes the Imsto set look so good is how sharp and bold the dyesub lettering is. And of course, both sets feel remarkable.